My wife called me, she went to see a doctor around the corner from the chiropractor who prescribed her anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers. He pointed out to her the chiropractor's work will be for nothing if she doesn't allieviate the swelling of the trapezius muscle.
I'm not sure about the spelling on trapezius but I don't bother with small things like dictionaries.
She feels better about seeing a doctor since she is getting desperate about getting the pain to subside.
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Still there is pain
My wife is still in pain. She has a 3rd chiropractor appointment, she is very upset now since she is receiving little relief.
Monday, November 29, 2004
Monday back
We had a busy day at the office since it was our first day back from the holiday weekend.
My wife had another appointment with the chiropractor and hopefully she'll start feeling much better soon.
We're so tired that we had a simple dinner: salad with roasted chicken and rolls.
My wife had another appointment with the chiropractor and hopefully she'll start feeling much better soon.
We're so tired that we had a simple dinner: salad with roasted chicken and rolls.
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Lazy Sunday
My wife and son did not wake up until 2:00 p.m. today. They both slept for some time. I just let them sleep since I had some time to do some bookkeeping and check writing.
She's back
My wife got home about 2:00 a.m. and she was tired. Our son was asleep and woke up as soon as she walked in the door. He didn't fall back asleep until 5:00 a.m.
My wife took over watching our son since I was so tired I was falling asleep on the couch.
My wife had a good time out but didn't drink as much. I guess guys do the hanging out thing differently. If my friends and I were out at a bar for 3 or 4 hours we would have been slightly hammered, well, probably more than slightly.
My wife took over watching our son since I was so tired I was falling asleep on the couch.
My wife had a good time out but didn't drink as much. I guess guys do the hanging out thing differently. If my friends and I were out at a bar for 3 or 4 hours we would have been slightly hammered, well, probably more than slightly.
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Girls night out
My wife went with some friends for girls night out. This is her first night with friends partying since having the baby. She's hoping that it will help her loosen up the muscles in her neck.
I just want her to have a good night out with friends.
I just want her to have a good night out with friends.
Friday, November 26, 2004
The day after
My wife is has been experiencing sharp pains in her neck on her right hand side for some time. I took her to the emergency ward on Wednesday night. The doctor gave her an anti-inflammatory - Toradol to help but it didn't do much for her. She went to a Chiropractor today to see if he can do anything to ease her pain. She can't really move much right now.
I think it will take some time before she can feel any results. The chiropractor said she should get several treatments over the next two or three months.
I think it will take some time before she can feel any results. The chiropractor said she should get several treatments over the next two or three months.
Baby dates
Today our son is 19 weeks old. The doctor is qualifying him as 4 1/2 months old. I would have figured he'd be 5 months next week but I don't know much nowadays. My wife needs to see a doctor, she's in pain, her neck and back are really hurting her. At the hospital the doctor said it's her trapezius muscle that's aggravating her.
Holding the baby while she's breastfeeding is causing her the most pain lately.
Holding the baby while she's breastfeeding is causing her the most pain lately.
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Thanksgiving
We had dinner at a family friend of my wife's family. I was worried about the roads because it was raining pretty much the entire day but by the time we left the rain tapered off and the cold weather came in.
Our son was the main event. Everyone there just loved our son. Our son does well with strangers, he doesn’t get terrified and always smiles.He was well behaved and slept on and off.
We had a great traditional meal – turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato mash, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie. All the stuff that makes the holiday.
We had a great time and left somewhat early to get home before we hit any major traffic. It turned out to be a nice easy ride.
Our son was the main event. Everyone there just loved our son. Our son does well with strangers, he doesn’t get terrified and always smiles.He was well behaved and slept on and off.
We had a great traditional meal – turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato mash, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie. All the stuff that makes the holiday.
We had a great time and left somewhat early to get home before we hit any major traffic. It turned out to be a nice easy ride.
Baby's First Thanksgiving
On this day we have much to be thankful for.
I'm thankful for...........:
my wife is free of cancer.
we have a healthy baby boy.
I am still employed through all the time I had to take off to take my wife to doctors and care for her.
my diabetes is under control through diet and I don't require insulin shots.
we have a home.
I'm thankful for...........:
my wife is free of cancer.
we have a healthy baby boy.
I am still employed through all the time I had to take off to take my wife to doctors and care for her.
my diabetes is under control through diet and I don't require insulin shots.
we have a home.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Dan Rather to sign off
Dan Rather announced yesterday he is retiring as TV newscaster for CBS. This morning's NYC Daily News and NYC Post seems to attribute this to the forged documents dealing with President Bush's National Guard service.
Rather was scheduled to retire in 2006 when his contract was complete with a 25 year tenure, this early departure cuts reduces this count to 24. If indeed CBS had a hand in this decision due to integrity of the story as the Republican juggernaut bore down on the case with a ton a bricks it would be a shame to end his career in this manner.
There is one thing that was totally ignored throughout the entire forged documents hysteria: The documents were false but the story was true!!! The White House never denied the facts stated, only the medium through which the facts were presented.
Psychologically speaking by vociferously denying the authenticity of the documents, average people listening to the denials just attributed the falsity of the documents to the words the documents contained. By not defending the story completely they allowed the pundits and spin doctors to socially engineer the story to be nomething short of collusion with the Democratic Party.
Of course this is politics we're talking about so it's not totally inconceivable to believe that the story was provided as it was to debunk it. How best to hide the truth than out in the open?
I guess the old saying is true: The winners write History, the losers, Propaganda.
Rather was scheduled to retire in 2006 when his contract was complete with a 25 year tenure, this early departure cuts reduces this count to 24. If indeed CBS had a hand in this decision due to integrity of the story as the Republican juggernaut bore down on the case with a ton a bricks it would be a shame to end his career in this manner.
There is one thing that was totally ignored throughout the entire forged documents hysteria: The documents were false but the story was true!!! The White House never denied the facts stated, only the medium through which the facts were presented.
Psychologically speaking by vociferously denying the authenticity of the documents, average people listening to the denials just attributed the falsity of the documents to the words the documents contained. By not defending the story completely they allowed the pundits and spin doctors to socially engineer the story to be nomething short of collusion with the Democratic Party.
Of course this is politics we're talking about so it's not totally inconceivable to believe that the story was provided as it was to debunk it. How best to hide the truth than out in the open?
I guess the old saying is true: The winners write History, the losers, Propaganda.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Counting to 40 - Part II
As a child, the days we would go out to the movies was a magical event. An afternoon matinee would cost $1.75. After I pass the ticket taker I would walk up to the concession counter and pick a bucket of freshly made popcorn and have them smear it with semi-real butter, extra butter. I would order a large soda and occassionally Juju Bees. Those three items would cost approximately $4.00.
With movie viewing snacks in hand I was free to walk into the theater proper and take a seat. It wouldn't matter if the film was midway through or not, the ushers wouldn't throw me out, I was free to see the film as often as I would like. But I would sit and love to see the previews of films that won't come to the theaters for 6 months or so.
I'd sit down and look at the 75 foot screen. A mammoth window into escapism, designed to entertain hundreds of people at once, only one film would play in this building at any given time. I might see a double feature but I only have one choice. If I really liked the film chances are I could see it again 2 or 3 weeks later.
Films were not made and distributed in great volume, a new movie would be released once a month or every other month. In there you would see a star-studded drama, an adventure epic or a B-movie destined to be a shlock classic.
Once the film was off the theater circuit you would have to wait for it to hit network television, other venues were not vastly available.
Things have changed dramatically since then.
Theaters show as few as four films and as many as 16 films in multiple mini-theaters.
A ticket now costs you $10.00 and it's good only for the time of showing. Ushers will tell you you have to leave the theater. If you want to see the film again you have to buy another ticket.
Snack variety has increased as has the cost: popcorn (not fresh but pre-popped), hotdogs, nachos, ice cream, soda, water, candy in a box and candy by the pound; an average cost of $3.00 or $4.00 for each item is not unheard of.
A film's shelf life is now measured in weeks rather than months. The day of a film like Star Wars to play in a theater for over a year is over. Turnover is the rule. A film makes it's money in the first three weeks of release, anything more is unanticipated and anything less gets the film pulled for a rush release to international screens, Cable pay-per-view, DVD/VHS sales and rentals, cable premium movie service broadcast, network broadcast television and finally the "Deluxe" edition of DVD release.
The amount of money now expended for marketing is enormous. It is measured in hundreds of millions of dollars. Summer blockbusters, fast food tie-ins, merchandising, product placement, making-of specials on cable channels, talk show junkets and MTV Movie Awards plugs.
It's a troubling change that has come about films and movie theaters. Assuming the average family consists of two adults and two children, does the average family routinely go to the movies at a cost of $60.00-$80.00 for a 90-120 minute experience? Is it appropriate to subject a patron to commercials in the theater as they wait for the film to start playing?
Movie theaters will continue to evolve and adjust their means and ways. Their ultimate goal is to make a visit to a theater a daylong event: play at the video games in between the multiple movies you purchased tickets for, visit the souvenier shop to purchase past movie memorabilia and present licensed merchandise, buy your favorite movies, take home a DVD of your family performing their favorite scene from a movie or television show at the in-house filming center, take part in trivia games where you can win materials from the souvenier shop. Concession stands will be replace with food courts where you can get anything from popcorn to take out food.
Imagine a mall with a theater, but it's the theater that's the mall where you wander through the many shops in between films. But you have to buy your tickets to enjoy the ride.
With movie viewing snacks in hand I was free to walk into the theater proper and take a seat. It wouldn't matter if the film was midway through or not, the ushers wouldn't throw me out, I was free to see the film as often as I would like. But I would sit and love to see the previews of films that won't come to the theaters for 6 months or so.
I'd sit down and look at the 75 foot screen. A mammoth window into escapism, designed to entertain hundreds of people at once, only one film would play in this building at any given time. I might see a double feature but I only have one choice. If I really liked the film chances are I could see it again 2 or 3 weeks later.
Films were not made and distributed in great volume, a new movie would be released once a month or every other month. In there you would see a star-studded drama, an adventure epic or a B-movie destined to be a shlock classic.
Once the film was off the theater circuit you would have to wait for it to hit network television, other venues were not vastly available.
Things have changed dramatically since then.
Theaters show as few as four films and as many as 16 films in multiple mini-theaters.
A ticket now costs you $10.00 and it's good only for the time of showing. Ushers will tell you you have to leave the theater. If you want to see the film again you have to buy another ticket.
Snack variety has increased as has the cost: popcorn (not fresh but pre-popped), hotdogs, nachos, ice cream, soda, water, candy in a box and candy by the pound; an average cost of $3.00 or $4.00 for each item is not unheard of.
A film's shelf life is now measured in weeks rather than months. The day of a film like Star Wars to play in a theater for over a year is over. Turnover is the rule. A film makes it's money in the first three weeks of release, anything more is unanticipated and anything less gets the film pulled for a rush release to international screens, Cable pay-per-view, DVD/VHS sales and rentals, cable premium movie service broadcast, network broadcast television and finally the "Deluxe" edition of DVD release.
The amount of money now expended for marketing is enormous. It is measured in hundreds of millions of dollars. Summer blockbusters, fast food tie-ins, merchandising, product placement, making-of specials on cable channels, talk show junkets and MTV Movie Awards plugs.
It's a troubling change that has come about films and movie theaters. Assuming the average family consists of two adults and two children, does the average family routinely go to the movies at a cost of $60.00-$80.00 for a 90-120 minute experience? Is it appropriate to subject a patron to commercials in the theater as they wait for the film to start playing?
Movie theaters will continue to evolve and adjust their means and ways. Their ultimate goal is to make a visit to a theater a daylong event: play at the video games in between the multiple movies you purchased tickets for, visit the souvenier shop to purchase past movie memorabilia and present licensed merchandise, buy your favorite movies, take home a DVD of your family performing their favorite scene from a movie or television show at the in-house filming center, take part in trivia games where you can win materials from the souvenier shop. Concession stands will be replace with food courts where you can get anything from popcorn to take out food.
Imagine a mall with a theater, but it's the theater that's the mall where you wander through the many shops in between films. But you have to buy your tickets to enjoy the ride.
In review
It's been a year since I've started this and alot has happened during that period.
Our lives have changed dramatically in a good way. The responsibility of caring for a small human being that is so dependant on you is at times overwhelming.
Until I got together with my wife I only thought about myself and didn't consider the impact of decisions. Now I am constantly weighing my choices of what I do or say and how it affects my wife and son.
At times it's unsettling. But I am also aware as to how aimless my life had been before my wife. She saved me.
Bah! Enough blathering.
Our lives have changed dramatically in a good way. The responsibility of caring for a small human being that is so dependant on you is at times overwhelming.
Until I got together with my wife I only thought about myself and didn't consider the impact of decisions. Now I am constantly weighing my choices of what I do or say and how it affects my wife and son.
At times it's unsettling. But I am also aware as to how aimless my life had been before my wife. She saved me.
Bah! Enough blathering.
Um....er....
We still haven't fed our son any solid food yet. Sunday we went our to dinner and yesterday we were so beat we fed him breastmilk and a bottle after he depleted the supply.
We'll try again tonight.
We'll try again tonight.
Monday, November 22, 2004
MSNBC - Nov. 22, Now a Game
MSNBC - Nov. 22, Now a Game
I am a fan of the Grand Theft Auto Series and FPS games, however I think you have to draw the line when it comes to a real event not just reality inspired.
Just as I wouldn't want to see a Trencoat Mafia based game this is not a form of entertainment but exploitation. I understand games like Medal of Honor and Battlefield 1942 and the newer games based on the Vietnam war and the more recent Middle East warfare games are popular and are also reality based.
However they don't have you burning down villages and killing women children Jews or otherwise. It's poor taste and judgement. It's also the worst form of commercialism.
By creating a game that is so distasteful, they have done something that has been for the last couple of years the sole property of Rock Star Games: They have propelled themselves to the level of notoriety that would cost them millions had they hired a public relations company to provide it.
Free press. Worldwide. Heck, just by my writing this I'm contributing to their gratis press junket.
So enuff said.
I am a fan of the Grand Theft Auto Series and FPS games, however I think you have to draw the line when it comes to a real event not just reality inspired.
Just as I wouldn't want to see a Trencoat Mafia based game this is not a form of entertainment but exploitation. I understand games like Medal of Honor and Battlefield 1942 and the newer games based on the Vietnam war and the more recent Middle East warfare games are popular and are also reality based.
However they don't have you burning down villages and killing women children Jews or otherwise. It's poor taste and judgement. It's also the worst form of commercialism.
By creating a game that is so distasteful, they have done something that has been for the last couple of years the sole property of Rock Star Games: They have propelled themselves to the level of notoriety that would cost them millions had they hired a public relations company to provide it.
Free press. Worldwide. Heck, just by my writing this I'm contributing to their gratis press junket.
So enuff said.
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Milestone
We had to go pick up a different car seat for our son since he quickly outgrew our present car seat.
I selected a Cosco carseat that goes from 5 lbs. to 100 lbs. I preferred to have a seat that we won't have to replace every four months.
I selected a Cosco carseat that goes from 5 lbs. to 100 lbs. I preferred to have a seat that we won't have to replace every four months.
Saturday, November 20, 2004
A response.
Our pediatrician called back and told us our son is ok to start on solid food, either Cream of Rice or Oatmeal. We have both so we'll try out the Cream of Rice first.
Doctor's visit
Our son had his 2nd round of innoculations. He did not like it much, alot of crying and general crankiness. He's been that way for several days now, we think he's sick.
If he is sick our pediatrician did not think it serious enough to say that she wanted to reschedule his vaccinations.
My wife forgot to speak with the doctor about giving our son solid food. We put a call in for her. When the doctor calls back we should have an answer.
If he is sick our pediatrician did not think it serious enough to say that she wanted to reschedule his vaccinations.
My wife forgot to speak with the doctor about giving our son solid food. We put a call in for her. When the doctor calls back we should have an answer.
Friday, November 19, 2004
Baby dates
Today my son is 18 weeks old. The book we're reading on a baby's development says he should be sitting up on his own. That's so far not the case. Then again it also said that he should be 14 lbs. and 24 inches but he's 18 lbs. and 26 inches.
Go figure.
Go figure.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
And I take a long pause.
A review of our bills and costs last night told me we're in financial trouble.
Quite frankly, We're paying out more than we're taking in. I'm hoping that we can reach a levelling off during the holidays and at tax time. We should get a large refund since our income level has dropped by 66%.
At this point most people would be frantic, i'm a little slower than most so I haven't reached frantic yet. I'm just going to look for a 2nd job and hope that helps us ride out this low spot.
I don't want my wife to work since I think taking care of our son is more important. I'm not the barefoot and pregnant type of guy, it's just that every other month you see reports or segments about baby sitters and care-givers that abuse their charges. I would go crazy if that happened to our son and thankfully my wife agrees with my priority of maintaining a presence with our child.
I'll just have to suck it up and push along. I can't work longer hours at my office, i'm a salaried employee so I don't get overtime. I'll try to find something where I can get 20 or 30 hours. Hopefully I won't pass out from exhaustion. The hard part will be finding a job that pays well.
Quite frankly, We're paying out more than we're taking in. I'm hoping that we can reach a levelling off during the holidays and at tax time. We should get a large refund since our income level has dropped by 66%.
At this point most people would be frantic, i'm a little slower than most so I haven't reached frantic yet. I'm just going to look for a 2nd job and hope that helps us ride out this low spot.
I don't want my wife to work since I think taking care of our son is more important. I'm not the barefoot and pregnant type of guy, it's just that every other month you see reports or segments about baby sitters and care-givers that abuse their charges. I would go crazy if that happened to our son and thankfully my wife agrees with my priority of maintaining a presence with our child.
I'll just have to suck it up and push along. I can't work longer hours at my office, i'm a salaried employee so I don't get overtime. I'll try to find something where I can get 20 or 30 hours. Hopefully I won't pass out from exhaustion. The hard part will be finding a job that pays well.
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Nice Sunday
Today we had a great day.
Our son woke us up early but not too early, a little past 8:00 a.m. We sat around a little then got ready for church.
After church we went grocery shopping. I had to pull us out of there before we were complete because I just couldn't take it any more, way too many people there. Our son enjoyed riding through the supermarket, new sounds, sights and smells.
After we got home I made us some hamburgers for lunch and we watched Shrek 2. Our son liked the abundance of colors in the feature. I thought it was a well made film, very good animation and a nice abundance of humor to make it tolerable.
One note: Fairy Godmother's henchmen looked real. Maybe it's because I didn't have my glasses on but they did.
Shortly after the film ended our son fell asleep, my wife decided to take a nap and I played City of Heroes until our son woke up again.
These are the days I like.
Our son woke us up early but not too early, a little past 8:00 a.m. We sat around a little then got ready for church.
After church we went grocery shopping. I had to pull us out of there before we were complete because I just couldn't take it any more, way too many people there. Our son enjoyed riding through the supermarket, new sounds, sights and smells.
After we got home I made us some hamburgers for lunch and we watched Shrek 2. Our son liked the abundance of colors in the feature. I thought it was a well made film, very good animation and a nice abundance of humor to make it tolerable.
One note: Fairy Godmother's henchmen looked real. Maybe it's because I didn't have my glasses on but they did.
Shortly after the film ended our son fell asleep, my wife decided to take a nap and I played City of Heroes until our son woke up again.
These are the days I like.
Saturday, November 13, 2004
Even more stuff for the kid
We picked up a high-chair for our son today. After about an hour of putting it together (yet one more thing that had only about 8 screws in total) and placing our son in it one thing comes to mind: He is going to outgrow that thing so fast!
He looks like he fits into it pretty good right now as it is. He does have to develop more neck strength to be situated in a more comfortable manner.
He looks like he fits into it pretty good right now as it is. He does have to develop more neck strength to be situated in a more comfortable manner.
Friday, November 12, 2004
Finally the test results
We finally got a telephone call from the Neurologist's office to advise us that our son is perfectly OK based on the results from the CT scan. After a week of waiting.
Our big problem with this Neurologist is that he doesn't pick up the phone when you call him and he never returns a call. We were called by his receptionist.
In my opinion that's no way to treat parents that are worried about the outcome of their childs test. Especially a test where the results were obtained and forwarded to the neurologist the same day.
To make the parents wait a week is quite insensitive. Furthermore to have your receptionist to make the call to avoid any questions from the parents is reprehensible.
This is not the way to treat people!
Our big problem with this Neurologist is that he doesn't pick up the phone when you call him and he never returns a call. We were called by his receptionist.
In my opinion that's no way to treat parents that are worried about the outcome of their childs test. Especially a test where the results were obtained and forwarded to the neurologist the same day.
To make the parents wait a week is quite insensitive. Furthermore to have your receptionist to make the call to avoid any questions from the parents is reprehensible.
This is not the way to treat people!
Baby dates
Today our son is 17 weeks old. I have to assume that a doctor will call that 4 months by now.
He is now laughing often and smiles constantly. He can almost hold his head up for long periods of time. He still hates to lay face down, his head causes him to roll over quite a bit.
He is now laughing often and smiles constantly. He can almost hold his head up for long periods of time. He still hates to lay face down, his head causes him to roll over quite a bit.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Hard night
Our son was very cranky today. He had alot of gas bothering him, he is farting quite a bit. And he's also eating alot too. My wife is at her wits end, she's tired and exhausted. I help out as much as I can but she fails to realize that I need to sleep in order to be able to safely drive to work.
After feeding him, walking him around and rocking him he eventually fell asleep about 2 or 3 hours later.
After feeding him, walking him around and rocking him he eventually fell asleep about 2 or 3 hours later.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Limited time
These nights are tougher on us when we come home from Mommy and Me, we are usually home by 8:00 p.m. and I go to sleep by 10:00 p.m. so that leaves us with 2 hours to get snuggly so to speak.
Between lack of time, baby needs and running around we don't have time for ourselves to get reacquainted with each other. We will have to be diligent about making time for us.
Between lack of time, baby needs and running around we don't have time for ourselves to get reacquainted with each other. We will have to be diligent about making time for us.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
There's a reason they call it Road Rage
I dropped off my wife today for her day with our friends with Mommy and Me and I stop off at McDonalds so she can get breakfast, a quick 3-4 minute drive-thru stop over on the way in. That was my first problem, making the stop in the first place.
As I pull up to the drive-thru menu/order kiosk, I see a McDonalds employee come out and pay the driver of the car in front of me, the passenger exits the car and the driver takes off. It turns out that the vehicle is a Car Service driver. Now this is my problem: Why is the drive-thru lane used for something other than it's purpose?
I get upset a bit but try to relax, I wait patiently at the kiosk waiting for Charlie Brown's teacher to ask for the order. And I wait. And I wait. I yell at the microphone. Nothing happens. I tap the horn. Nothing happens. I pull up to the window in case the microphone isn't working. Nothing happens. After a frustrating conversation with an employee who is rearranging the garbage from the previous night, I pull out and drive to the entrance of McDonalds.
My wife gets out to get her order because at this point I would not be nice if I placed her order. She is waiting on the line (there were only 3 people ahead of her) and waiting. And waiting. And waiting.
At this point my wife gives up and goes three doors down to Dunkin Donuts. She is able to place her order, get her order, pay for it and come back before the same people she left behind at McDonalds had exited with their orders.
With little irony I notice the posters in McDonalds windows: We are open at 6:00 a.m. or earlier. With much sarcasm I realize the poster doesn't say: We are open for business at 6:00 a.m. or earlier. This quick 3-4 minute stop stretched out to 40 minutes. That is no way to do business. It is reprehensible to have a staff available to collect money for a service and no staff available to provide the service. It is poor management to allow such a situation to occur regardless of the circumstances. Of course there are reasonably acceptable excuses but the place wasn't on fire, no one robbed them, the building had power and there was no one running away from a lava flow.
It's not just this incident, it's a consistent thing over the years. People and businesses behave and operate as if the rules don't apply to them. We poor suckers that live our day to day lives following the common rules of society and the law are constantly waiting for these people to get theirs only to see the people in authority pull the same crap!!
Stop signs? Bah.
Street Lights? Not me.
Double Parking? They can go around, doesn't matter if the road is narrow.
Speeding? There's plenty of room in front of me and the other car, looks like a good 8 inches.
Turn signals? No one pays attention to those anyway.
Talking on the phone? Hey, it's my roaming minutes...oh wait i'm drifting.
Zipping across 3 lanes at the last minute to make the exit? It was an important call I had to take.
Riding along the service road in heavy traffic? Don't get mad at me because you didn't think of it.
Coming to a complete stop to see the accident on the other side of the median? My friends have got to see this.
Realigning the Xenon bulbs so they blind everyone in front of them? Wow...it's like a Hollywood movie premiere.
Cutting off everyone to get just one foot closer to your destination? Come on! I got somewhere to go!
Driving down the wrong side of the street just to get to the drive way? You mean you want me to go around the block?
And that's just driving, I can go on and on but what's the use. You see enough there just for that alone. I just get really frustrated because I can take every precaution I can to make my son safer but all those people up there that I'm mentioning they are the variable that I can't protect him from.
Those people are dangers to themselves and more importantly to others because any damage they cause usually affects others.
Sigh. I'm just venting, what can you do? Cops, government officials and corporate officers, they don't care about anyone unless it affects them or they can exploit it for their agenda. I just have to hope I do a good enough job that my son doesn't grow up to be one of them.
As I pull up to the drive-thru menu/order kiosk, I see a McDonalds employee come out and pay the driver of the car in front of me, the passenger exits the car and the driver takes off. It turns out that the vehicle is a Car Service driver. Now this is my problem: Why is the drive-thru lane used for something other than it's purpose?
I get upset a bit but try to relax, I wait patiently at the kiosk waiting for Charlie Brown's teacher to ask for the order. And I wait. And I wait. I yell at the microphone. Nothing happens. I tap the horn. Nothing happens. I pull up to the window in case the microphone isn't working. Nothing happens. After a frustrating conversation with an employee who is rearranging the garbage from the previous night, I pull out and drive to the entrance of McDonalds.
My wife gets out to get her order because at this point I would not be nice if I placed her order. She is waiting on the line (there were only 3 people ahead of her) and waiting. And waiting. And waiting.
At this point my wife gives up and goes three doors down to Dunkin Donuts. She is able to place her order, get her order, pay for it and come back before the same people she left behind at McDonalds had exited with their orders.
With little irony I notice the posters in McDonalds windows: We are open at 6:00 a.m. or earlier. With much sarcasm I realize the poster doesn't say: We are open for business at 6:00 a.m. or earlier. This quick 3-4 minute stop stretched out to 40 minutes. That is no way to do business. It is reprehensible to have a staff available to collect money for a service and no staff available to provide the service. It is poor management to allow such a situation to occur regardless of the circumstances. Of course there are reasonably acceptable excuses but the place wasn't on fire, no one robbed them, the building had power and there was no one running away from a lava flow.
It's not just this incident, it's a consistent thing over the years. People and businesses behave and operate as if the rules don't apply to them. We poor suckers that live our day to day lives following the common rules of society and the law are constantly waiting for these people to get theirs only to see the people in authority pull the same crap!!
Stop signs? Bah.
Street Lights? Not me.
Double Parking? They can go around, doesn't matter if the road is narrow.
Speeding? There's plenty of room in front of me and the other car, looks like a good 8 inches.
Turn signals? No one pays attention to those anyway.
Talking on the phone? Hey, it's my roaming minutes...oh wait i'm drifting.
Zipping across 3 lanes at the last minute to make the exit? It was an important call I had to take.
Riding along the service road in heavy traffic? Don't get mad at me because you didn't think of it.
Coming to a complete stop to see the accident on the other side of the median? My friends have got to see this.
Realigning the Xenon bulbs so they blind everyone in front of them? Wow...it's like a Hollywood movie premiere.
Cutting off everyone to get just one foot closer to your destination? Come on! I got somewhere to go!
Driving down the wrong side of the street just to get to the drive way? You mean you want me to go around the block?
And that's just driving, I can go on and on but what's the use. You see enough there just for that alone. I just get really frustrated because I can take every precaution I can to make my son safer but all those people up there that I'm mentioning they are the variable that I can't protect him from.
Those people are dangers to themselves and more importantly to others because any damage they cause usually affects others.
Sigh. I'm just venting, what can you do? Cops, government officials and corporate officers, they don't care about anyone unless it affects them or they can exploit it for their agenda. I just have to hope I do a good enough job that my son doesn't grow up to be one of them.
Monday, November 08, 2004
Doctor Visit
My wife had an appointment with her oncologist today. This is the first time she's seen our son. She was amazed by how big he is. After a quick visit the doctor is happy with my wife's healing process. It will still have to undergo monitoring but my wife should be out of the woods so to speak.
To me, my son is big but not unusually big, I just think the other kids are smaller is all. Eventually our son is due to slow down his growing sooner or later. If he continued to grow at this rate he'd be 18 feet tall. Circus material.
It's a wonder how our son likes the cold weather. I like it too but now as I get older I can't tolerate it as much.
To me, my son is big but not unusually big, I just think the other kids are smaller is all. Eventually our son is due to slow down his growing sooner or later. If he continued to grow at this rate he'd be 18 feet tall. Circus material.
It's a wonder how our son likes the cold weather. I like it too but now as I get older I can't tolerate it as much.
Sunday, November 07, 2004
More stuff for the kid
After church services we went over to Babies R Us and picked up an exersaucer for our son.
It's a nice toy with alot of visual toys to keep his attention and springs so that he can bounce in it. It took me a couple of hours to put it together, the whole thing only has about 15 screws in it. Most of it just snaps together, but it was a tight snap, I actually had to use some elbow grease to make sure they snap into place. The only problem now is that he's still too young to sit in it.
We have to wait until he can hold his head up more. The bouncing may cause his head to flop around right now, definitely not something he can use at this time.
It's a nice toy with alot of visual toys to keep his attention and springs so that he can bounce in it. It took me a couple of hours to put it together, the whole thing only has about 15 screws in it. Most of it just snaps together, but it was a tight snap, I actually had to use some elbow grease to make sure they snap into place. The only problem now is that he's still too young to sit in it.
We have to wait until he can hold his head up more. The bouncing may cause his head to flop around right now, definitely not something he can use at this time.
Sunday services
We started going to Sunday Mass today. We will have to start attending in order for our son to get baptized. I'm not an avid Catholic but it doesn't totally offend me to go to church. I don't subscribe to all their doctrines but I think it will be healthy to our son to experience religiion.
Of course I will have to take him to different services, different religions so he can gauge them and allow him the freedom to choose the religion he wishes to follow.
I'm not 100% certain that's the way to expose him to religion but that's the closest thing I can think of that will allow him to make an educated choice.
Of course I will have to take him to different services, different religions so he can gauge them and allow him the freedom to choose the religion he wishes to follow.
I'm not 100% certain that's the way to expose him to religion but that's the closest thing I can think of that will allow him to make an educated choice.
Saturday, November 06, 2004
Saturday stroll
We took our son to see Santa Claus today. It's VERY early for that however it was a local thing at the church where my wife and son go to Mommy and Me so it was a convenient thing.
Our son was pleasant with Santa, he smiled and was happy. Considering how some children react our son was great.
Our son was pleasant with Santa, he smiled and was happy. Considering how some children react our son was great.
Friday, November 05, 2004
On the block
Today the head of the company I work for announced the corporation we are a subsidiary of will be selling off our company from their holdings.
It appears we have lost so much money that we are a liability to them. Considering how some of the projects we are working on have developed I would say that's a valid concern. Mismanagement and lack of attention to detail caused several projects to balloon well beyond the estimated costs of the projects.
I hope our next boss will be less invasive, our present owner's IT security is a bit confining. I understand their position I just feel it's a bit too binding.
It appears we have lost so much money that we are a liability to them. Considering how some of the projects we are working on have developed I would say that's a valid concern. Mismanagement and lack of attention to detail caused several projects to balloon well beyond the estimated costs of the projects.
I hope our next boss will be less invasive, our present owner's IT security is a bit confining. I understand their position I just feel it's a bit too binding.
Baby dates
Today our son is 16 weeks old. By my reckoning he's 4 months old but the doctors see him as 3 1/2 months.......go figure.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Visit to the lab
We woke up early this morning, I normally get up early but this time all of us got up early. We have an appointment with the medical lab for our son's CT scan. We con't know the results for a day or two but at least we'll be able to rule out any problems.
I'm fairly certain he's fine but there's always the possibility of a complication.
I'm fairly certain he's fine but there's always the possibility of a complication.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
And the winner is......
With the results in, it appears that 51% of the voters have chosen Bush as their president. 48% of the voters chose Kerry and 1% chose others Nader, communist party, whatever.
My fear is that Bush will end up making this country even worse for us, it will be great for business but horrible for the rest of us.
Maybe I'm being just a little paranoid but the socio-economic world I see transpiring is very similar to the conditions in the Charlton Heston/Edward G. Robison movie Soylent Green. An extreme view, yes but as things are working out how bad do you think it can get?
He has already stated his aim is to push the Christian fundamentalist agenda. Well, he didn't say that specifically but let's get serious...that's what he wants.
My fear is that Bush will end up making this country even worse for us, it will be great for business but horrible for the rest of us.
Maybe I'm being just a little paranoid but the socio-economic world I see transpiring is very similar to the conditions in the Charlton Heston/Edward G. Robison movie Soylent Green. An extreme view, yes but as things are working out how bad do you think it can get?
He has already stated his aim is to push the Christian fundamentalist agenda. Well, he didn't say that specifically but let's get serious...that's what he wants.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Results trickle in
After seeing the news reports from CNN, CNBC, Fox News and MSNBC, is it any surprise that young people consider Jon Stewart and The Daily Show the best source of news?
Yes, he has a sarcastic and skewered approach to the news, however people fail to realize The Daily Show displays more truth than the legitimate news sources.
These news sources are either shills for the Republican Party or afraid to be shut out of any news from the White House.
The polls are showing Bush with a winning lead. However there is no reference to the absentee ballots that were sent in from around the world or the ballots from the people who's elegibility was challenged but are entitled to a proxy vote.
I wouldn't be surprised if Bush wins the election without all the votes tallied.
Yes, he has a sarcastic and skewered approach to the news, however people fail to realize The Daily Show displays more truth than the legitimate news sources.
These news sources are either shills for the Republican Party or afraid to be shut out of any news from the White House.
The polls are showing Bush with a winning lead. However there is no reference to the absentee ballots that were sent in from around the world or the ballots from the people who's elegibility was challenged but are entitled to a proxy vote.
I wouldn't be surprised if Bush wins the election without all the votes tallied.
Election Day
Today is probably going to have the biggest turn-out at the polls in quite some time.
I find it hard to believe that despite all the lies, mud-slinging, illegalities and general disregard for the population the people still think he's good for this country.
We know what we are dealing with when his supporters still believe that Iraq had something to do with 9/11 and Iraq had WMDs. Despite all the reports to the contrary his supporters still accept his words as gospel.
Hopefully our son will see a better world.
I find it hard to believe that despite all the lies, mud-slinging, illegalities and general disregard for the population the people still think he's good for this country.
We know what we are dealing with when his supporters still believe that Iraq had something to do with 9/11 and Iraq had WMDs. Despite all the reports to the contrary his supporters still accept his words as gospel.
Hopefully our son will see a better world.
Monday, November 01, 2004
Monday....ugh.
First work day with Daylight Savings Time. The trip home isn't a long ride but some days it just creeps along. The ride in was somewhat thin. Which is a good thing.
Bad thing is I'm sick, sniffles and sore throat. This will be a long day.
Bad thing is I'm sick, sniffles and sore throat. This will be a long day.
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